Most people start their eCommerce sites with the hopes of being a success. Part of that comes with being able to offer a unique experience. Some of the best online shopping carts will offer customization in varying degrees to help deliver this unique presence. It’s what you do with it that will change how the site performs in terms of functionality and generating sales.
Using Customized Templates
Templates offered by shopping cart software are great to get you started. However, it may be in your best interest to come up with something that hasn’t been seen before. After all, you don’t want to copy a site that is using the same layout and color scheme as yourself. It could create confusion and may lead to visitors believing one site is the same as another.
Appearance also plays a strong role in the reputation of the brand. For instances, studies show people are more likely to trust an online store if the appearance is well-designed and attractive. This trust is what dictates future sales. Remember, first impressions are very important.
Using the Editor Software
Most online carts will come with the ability to use advanced HTML, CSS and Javascript customization. This can help you create a site that has never been seen before. Modifying the layout, fonts, background colors and even the general layout itself may be monumental when attracting consumers. Something as simple as changing the header dimensions may offer that sense of individuality.
One of the highlights to the right shopping cart software is the what-you-see-is-what-you-get, or WYSIWIG, editor. This can help you fine-tune coding while allowing you to see the results in real-time. By going beyond simple text, you can offer a greater appearance through advanced coding techniques.
Optimizing Your Images
Images can weigh heavily on the performance of an eCommerce site. Large files may take too long to load on slower systems or Internet connections. As a result, customers may abandon the cart. According to statistics, consumers are more likely to leave a site if it takes longer than three seconds to load. Since eCommerce platforms often use the most images than any other service on the Internet, optimization is vital.
Search engines may also rank these pages lower in results because they are too slow. This means your competition may take your customers because your images are simply too large. This is especially true for mobile consumers as it may take a long time to render graphics, banners and pictures.
Text or HTML Email Messages
Using text emails may get the point across, but adding HTML into the format has potential to further engage potential shoppers. Although not everyone allows HTML messages to be viewed, it’s still a valid method to offer a unique experience. However, you don’t want to overload the message with too much coding. It may result in a poor experience by the recipient.
You don’t have to rely on default settings and graphics when you use eCommerce platforms. Most systems will offer methods in which to customize the experience on the code level. Give your visitors a unique way to shop and take advantage of these methods.